The Nature of Predators - Omnivore Miniseries (7/8)

First | Prev | Next 

Memory transcription subject: Wullara, Iftali Priesthood of the Consecrated Order

Date [standardized human time]: November 9, 2136

The flaming beam crashed down on the loft, and obstructed the human from view. There were no signs of movement, or any guttural cries from his vocal cords. The terror that clutched at my heart was consumptive; it was fear for Jordan, not of him. How strange that I would feel attached to a predator, when his ancestry was always on my mind.

I could still hear his gentle growl, and recall his clammy hands carrying me to safety. The rich emotion in those vile eyes, as he tended to my wounds, haunted me. We were an unlikely pair, but friendship arose despite the odds. I had thought humans existed to bring temptation, and that an empathetic predator was a heretical concept.

However, Jordan was special. The thought of him crushed beneath debris, with his flesh melting off and his nerve endings alight, was devastating. The human was a teacher like myself, and didn’t deserve a brutal death. Exterminators would’ve seen it as a fitting end, but I couldn’t accept that rhetoric. The Terran saved my life, and I intended to repay the favor.

My battered body was barely mobile, after getting pummeled by the angry mob. I wasn’t sure I could make my way up the ladder, but I had to try something. Smoke filtered into my nostrils, forcing a ragged cough. I raised my forepaws onto a rung, which led to a dizzy rush. My hindlegs buckled beneath me, impeding my rescue attempt.

“JORDAN!” I screamed.

A ghastly hacking noise echoed from the loft. Secondhand pain gripped my chest, which was irritated from the blaze too. I pleased that the human was still alive, but my relief was fleeting. Jordan was trapped against the back wall, and the debris was too massive for even a predator to move. Both of us were going to die in here.

A Sulean voice drifted through the air. “Wullara? Is that you?”

Hurried footsteps clopped toward me, as the newcomer’s hooves smacked the tile. A tapered snout poked through the smog. White stripes ran along his black pelt, and formed haphazard markings on his torso. This Sulean male had large antlers, which were well-suited defensive weapons. The gun clipped to his hip was indicative of a police officer.

Lighter taps rushed behind him, and a delicate-looking human trailed into the room. This one had a thinner neck than Jordan, and inky hair that stretched past her shoulders. I was taken aback, to see a predator accompanying law enforcement. Not to mention, she looked lost and teary-eyed; all the same, her repulsive features were glaring.

Jordan is the exception. Other humans still look like soulless monsters. I guess I need to get used to them as individuals.

“See? She doesn’t look like a hostage, Lyben.” The female voice was light and airy, lacking the throatiness of Jordan’s speech. “Let’s get out of here.”

“Come with us, Priest; there’s not much time,” Lyben urged. “It’s okay. We’re here to help.”

I backed away from the Sulean. “N-NO! Jordan is still up there, behind the debris.”

“Jordan? That’s the human you were with?” the mysterious Terran asked.

The police officer tilted his head. “It’s unusual that an Iftali priest would associate with, er…your kind, Nadia. Especially since they believe being near you damns them, for eternity.”

“It’s a long story, but humans don’t kill their food anymore,” I explained. “You can tell they have souls, so we can’t just leave him here!”

”Okay. I’ll take a look, and see what can be done.”

Lyben clambered up the ladder, taking care with his footing. Nadia pulled me back to a standing position, before following her Sulean accomplice. The human surveyed the debris, which stood taller than even her monstrous height. By comparison, the quadruped barely reached up to her stomach. These predators could bowl the herbivores over with ease.

Perhaps, with two humans in the same room, there was hope to budge the debris. Jordan needed a way to skirt around the obstruction, and make it to safety. I could see flames dancing behind the beam, engulfing any wooden surfaces in sight. The blaze was closing in behind me as well; the insufferable heat was asphyxiating.

“Jordan? Can you hear me?” Nadia called.

A rasping voice choked out a few exhalations. “Get…Wullara…out….leave me.”

Shock coursed through my veins. “Don’t you dare listen to him!”

Lyben inspected the gap between the ceiling and the debris. It might be large enough to throw an object over, but it would be tight for a bulky human to wriggle through. To make matters worse, it didn’t sound like Jordan was able to move of his own volition. I wasn’t sure if any of the rubble struck him; his injuries could be serious. It must take a significant wound to fell a predator, after all.

If Nadia’s instincts were tickled by her proximity to an herbivore, she hid it well. The human shook the ascent ladder, and tried to pull it loose. Her predator eyes squinted at the top screws, which bolted it to the platform. Her slender fingers tapped Lyben’s shoulder; the Sulean jumped back with a startled expression.

The Terran pointed at the nails. “Draw your gun. Maybe you can shoot the bolts off the ladder, then pass it over to him.”

“I t-thought you don’t like guns!” Lyben barked.

“No human likes being shot at! Bullets aren’t exactly a love tap.”

The herbivore snorted, and fired several rounds at each bolt. The ladder was liberated from its bearings; Nadia’s opposable thumbs made it easy for her to haul it up. The Terran tossed the climbing apparatus over the debris. A yelp echoed through the fire, so it must’ve landed atop Jordan.

The Sulean instructed the Catholic priest to prop up the device, and climb over the obstacle. There was no answer given, or sign of the ladder being righted. Jordan was unresponsive, as fire roared across his locale. It would be mere minutes until the flames consumed everything in the loft.

“Nadia?” Lyben croaked in a hesitant tone. “I’m sorry to ask you be a footstool, but uh, you mind kneeling on all fours? Right next to the beam?”

The predator arched an eyebrow, but complied with the request. The Sulean maneuvered atop her spine, and ignored her winces. His hooves digging into her soft flesh, with the whole of his weight, couldn’t have been pleasant. Lyben used Nadia’s body as a springboard, reaching out for a grip.

The officer draped his forelegs over the beam, and scrabbled with his climbing hooves. The Sulean dangled from the debris, grunting as his hindlegs peddled the air. He contorted his lower half, searching for a good push-off. One foot kicked against the smooth incline, and lent momentum.

Lyben hoisted himself up with a grunt, and vanished over the beam. It was impossible to see what he was going on, with the obstruction. All I spotted was the tips of the ladder, as the Sulean balanced it. I was amazed that the officer would risk his welfare for a human stranger. Terrans were dangerous beasts, to most of the populace.

“Is Jordan okay?” I shouted.

Nadia risked a glance at me. “I don’t think Lyben can hear you!”

“And how are you planning to get back down? That drop is about double your height!”

“Um…good question.”

A high-pitched scream emanated from the loft, the unmistakeable cry of an animal in pain. I was worried that Jordan had bitten Lyben, until the noise trailed into a groan. What happened to the human, to elicit such a shriek? I noticed the beam quiver, so I suspected the Sulean had pried Jordan from underneath it.

Flames sprang up across the lower and upper levels alike; the blaze’s severity was escalating. The path back to the exterior was riddled with kindling. I wondered how Lyben and Nadia had gotten past the incinerated entrances to begin with. If the two of them knew a way in, that opened up a viable escape route for us.

A human hand poked over the top of the beam; streaks of dried blood were visible on his palm. Jordan crawled over the peak, but the roof ensnared his broad shoulders. The ladder wobbled, as Lyben pushed with all his might. It didn’t seem like the predator was using his legs to help.

Jordan gritted his teeth, unable to fit through the gap. He sucked his gut in, and bent his shoulders inward. The predator inched forward in slight increments, straining to break loose. He vaulted over the edge with sudden momentum; the hard drop to the floor made me wince.

“Lyben! Hurry up!” Nadia slung her fellow beast’s arm across her neck. Perspiration drenched both humans’ skin. “This place could collapse any minute!”

The Sulean scaled back over the debris, and landed with grace. He rushed to Nadia’s aid, dragging the injured priest toward the loft’s ladderless edge. It was tough to see through the smoke, but Jordan’s foot looked pulverized. Its covering was twisted in the wrong direction, and a bone jutted from his shin.

No wonder he screamed when Lyben pulled him out. His foot must’ve been caught under the rubble.

Strength returned to my body, as I realized the human needed assistance. I shoved a couch beneath the drop, and hoped it’d soften the fall. It was a long way down from the loft; getting the ladder back wasn’t possible. There was no time to think twice either, with fire nipping at their heels.

“Wullara…” Jordan sputtered. “You…should go.”

I stamped a paw. “Not without you. We’re in this together; isn’t that what you said? Your foot’s mangled pretty bad.”

“I…guess that’s why…I have two of them.”

“That’s not funny. Push him, Lyben!”

The Terran priest’s eyes widened in alarm, as Lyben shoved him over the ledge. Jordan smacked down against the couch, and he nursed his foot. I yanked the human away from the landing zone, while petting his mane soothingly. His fur was damp, but surprisingly soft. It felt as downy as pillow fluff.

Lyben peered over the edge, and gulped at the massive drop. The Sulean was unable to bring himself to leap down. Nadia saw his hesitation, and shoved him with all of her might. An undignified scream trailed from his lips; the herbivore landed awkwardly. The impact knocked the wind out of him, but he rolled aside without harm.

Nadia slipped down feet-first, absorbing the impact with her convenient knee joints. After giving Lyben a cursory glance-over, she helped me support Jordan. The priest’s face was contorted with pain, as he clung to my back hump. I warred with weakened limbs to keep my balance.

Lyben glowered at Nadia. “You pushed me!”

The female shrugged. “I need someone to drive me to my archaeology project. You can’t do that if you’re burned to a crisp.”

“Whatever. Let’s get moving. This fella needs to talk on the way. Why is he here?”

The Sulean navigated around burning wreckage, and moved any errant obstacles aside. Nadia did most of the work lugging the priest, whose eyes had lolled back in his head. Those empty white sockets were jarring; it was somehow worse than having his pupils pointed at me. However, the sympathy for his broken leg overrode his predatory discoloration.

“Am here. To help…Wullara,” Jordan whimpered.

“An anti-religion mob was trying to kill me, and Jordan intervened. He brought me inside the church to treat my wounds. We talked for awhile,” I added.

Lyben trundled through a doorway. “I’m surprised that a human would go to such lengths…for an injured stranger?! Just a little further.”

The adjacent room was swallowed by flames, and the heat disoriented us all. A car had plowed through the far wall, leaving an opening to squeeze through. That bulldozing had to be the predator’s mind at work; destruction wasn’t how we solved problems. Seeing how real flesh-eaters operated, it was doubtful the Iftali were cut from the same cloth.

I skirted around an infernal patch, trying to be gentle with the Terran priest. Jordan was slumped between Nadia and myself, with one leg hanging limp. My heart clenched, thinking of the pain he must be in. Humans had the same sensory perception as any other sapient, and his suffering was evident on his face.

I’ve got to treat his injuries, the same as he mended mine. I just hope a wounded predator doesn’t bite or lash out due to pain.

The fire constricted around us, while the crashed car served as a buffer from the outside world. Hungry flames lapped up furniture ahead of us, while cabinets peeled off the walls. Ceiling fragments crashed down around us; thankfully, none were as sizable as the beam that hit Jordan.

A plaster chunk nailed Nadia in the head, and red blood trickled through her mane. The human barely kept her balance. She lost her grip on the wounded man, and toppled into a burning chair. Flames consumed her outfit, causing immediate panic. The beast shrieked her head off, and bolted through the exit in terror.

Lyben cast a glance at the burning predator, who was rolling around in the grass. Deciding that her prognosis was non-lethal, the cop circled back to Jordan and I. My legs had buckled, and the two of us languished in a heap. Without Nadia to carry most of the weight, I couldn’t support the male primate.

“Go! Get out of here, Wullara!” the Sulean shouted.

Jordan grimaced. “I agree…with him! I…don’t want you…hurt.”

I struggled to my paws. “I’m not going anywhere without the predator. We’ll carry him together.”

“No! I’ve got Jordan. You’re just going to get in the way. If you want him to live, LEAVE!” Lyben hissed.

The Catholic nodded, before latching onto Lyben’s antlers. It was remarkable the prey animal didn’t resist his touch. When the Sulean phrased my interference as a hindrance to Jordan’s survival, I had to step aside. Smoke seared my lungs, as I stumbled out of the room. A shameful part of me was grateful for my own safety.

Gentle sunlight warmed my face, and I collapsed near Nadia. The predator’s rolling had extinguished her artificial pelt, but she was covered in grass and mud. The irritation of her skin was apparent too; it wasn’t clear how pain-stricken humans behaved. Most injured beasts were known to bite when approached.

Risking a glance back, the extent of the blaze was striking. Lyben’s exhaustion was evident from his splayed stance. The herbivore wouldn’t abandon the human though, which meant he must regard Jordan as a person. The Sulean staggered a few steps, half-crawling along the floor.

The Catholic priest was dead weight, and the prey animal had nothing left in the tank.

Nadia glanced back with concern. “Shit. We have to help them!”

My attempts to stand were futile, as my aching body refused to comply. Judging by her reddened skin, the human stranger wasn’t at full capacity either. I could see raw fear in her pupils, at the prospect of returning to the inferno. Neither of us were in any condition to assist Lyben.

A flash of pink appeared alongside us. An Iftali raced through the wall’s opening, with fresh legs to offer rescue. The look in the newcomer’s eyes was exasperation. He recoiled as he neared Jordan, and a visible shudder raced down his spine.

“Lyben, you stupid, bleeding-heart!” the Iftali growled. “A predator isn’t worth your life.”

The Sulean grunted. “Yes, he is. Humans are people, like anyone else, and that makes them worth the risk. Please help me.”

“Look, I’m sorry I shot at the monster with the purple claws. I can see that upset you. But you said it yourself; humans sicken you.”

“That’s not a reason to kill them all, Miztesh. You know, I finally get it! That’s what the Venlil were telling us all along!”

“You’ve lost it. You want an infestation, like Venlil Prime? Humans are savages, only good for war and viciousness.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do! Now why shouldn’t we rid ourselves of this one? Give me one logical reason.”

“Because Elka started the fire. We’ll be lucky if humans don’t skin him alive already, for harming one of theirs. Do you want him charged with murder, in predator custody?”

Alarm rippled through Miztesh’s posture, and Lyben pounced on his concern. The Sulean placed Jordan’s arm around the Iftali’s hump. Sheer disgust flashed on the veteran’s face, but he tolerated contact with the human. The two cops waded through the fire, as the predator slumped helplessly.

The unlikely trio emerged from the building, covered in ash. I could hear weak coughs rattling the Terran’s chest; he required medical attention. Nadia stumbled over to assist, and settled Jordan onto the grass. Her binocular eyes turned to Lyben.

“I would definitely like to hug you, but I respect your boundaries. Thank you…for caring about us,” the female predator sniffled.

The Sulean cleared his throat. “We make a good team. I…I’d like to call us friends, human.”

“Are you kidding? Of course we’re friends.”

“Really? Uh, I mean, good. I’m going to call for some help, and pray your government has a…proportional response to this mess.”

“We will expect consequences, though not outlandish ones. For one thing, I don’t like that your partner shot at me.”

“Neither do I. I’ll see that Miz learns his lesson. I’m protective of my friends, you know.”

It warmed my heart to see another of Jild’s denizens, bonding with a predator. Nadia was no more depraved than Jordan, though her beautification of claws was a little strange. This disaster could’ve ended much differently, without their human-herbivore cooperation. There was a lot of cleaning up to do, but I hoped Earth would be gracious about this fiasco.

My recent scrapes with death put into perspective what was truly important. Maybe Jordan was right, about recent tragedies having a purpose. I was going to cultivate our friendship, and experience the nuances of Terran culture for myself. Then, after sufficient education, I was going to teach others that humans weren’t damned souls.

First | Prev | Next

A/N - Part 7 is here! Our characters finally meet up, as Lyben and Nadia come to the rescue. It remains to be seen who will be punished for their roles in the arson, and how. Hope you guys enjoyed both the banter and the action!

There will be a short epilogue, but this is the last full chapter.

As always, thank you for reading and supporting!